Difficult FILA Junior Freestyle Nationals sees no repeat champions or double champions
<< Back to Articles
Michelle Thilges (USA Wrestling)
04/07/2007
Eleven champions were crowned as the FILA Junior freestyle Nationals ended on Saturday.
This year's tournament was very challenging, as there were no repeat champions and no double champions awarded.
FILA Junior athletes are 17-20 years old. Champions at the FILA Junior Nationals earn the top seed at the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 25-26, advancing directly into the Championship Series
In an upset in the second round of the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. competition, Dom Bradley of Mo West Championship beat Erik Nye of Northern Xtreme. Nye was on last year's FILA Junior freestyle team.
Bradley made it to the finals and defeated Charlie Alexander of OWC 2-0, 1-0.
Dave Rella of Penn State was named Outstanding Wrestler after defeating Ryan Patrovich of the New York AC, 3-2, 1-0.
In the 63 kg/138.75 lbs. match, Brian Spangler of the Sunkist Kids defeated Michael Mangrum of Vision Quest Wrestling, 6-0, 5-2. Spangler was leading the first period 2-0 when he went into a series of rolls and scored four more points to take the period.
At 79 kg/174 lbs., Kirk Smith of Bronco Club did the same thing to Mike Letts of College Park Wrestling to win the third period, 6-0. Letts won the first period 4-1, but Smith took the last point to win the second period 1-1.
The only match to go into the leg clinch was at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. At the end of the first period, Taylor Moore (unattached) won the clinch and took the period 3-0 against Jared Platt of the New York AC. Moore went on to win the second period 3-1.
In a close match at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Zack Kemmerer defeated Dan LeClere of Hawkeye WC in three periods. Kemmerer won the first period 4-1. LeClere took the second 5-1. In the last 20 seconds of the third period, Kemmerer scored a takedown to win the championship.
Other winners included David Taylor of Ohio (50 kg/110.25 lbs.), Tyler Graff of Loveland Wrestling Academy (55 kg/121.25 lbs.), Todd Schavrien of Sunkist Kids (60 kg/132.25 lbs.), Bubba Jenkins of Penn State (70 kg/154.25) and Brent Chriswell of River City (84 kg/185 lbs.).